Gate-latch.



J. 0. SMITH.

GATE LATCH;

APPLICATION FILED we. 20, 1910.

. 997,335. Patented July 11,1911.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEY JOSEPH C. SMITH, OF FOREST CITY, IOWA.

GATE-LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1911.

Application filed. August 20, 1910. Serial No. 578,099.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH G. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Forest City, in the county of Vinnebago and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gate-Latches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in gate latches, the object being to provide a gate latch which is exceedingly simple and cheap iii construction, and one which can be quickly secured in position on the latch post, in such a manner that the free end of the gate when brought into engagement with the same will be securely locked.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a gate latch which is so constructed that all danger of the latch failing to work is prevented, as the parts are so arranged that they are protected from snow and rain.

Another object of my invention is to provide a latch which is adjustably connected to the post whereby the same can be easily and quickly adjusted so as to throw the same in the path of the gate.

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A still further object of my invention is to provide a gate latch having a pivoted catch, which is so mounted that the same can be readily moved into such a position that the gate will be allowed to swing and be held in that position until the gate is returned when the same will be fastened by the catch.

lVith these objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification :-F igure 1 is a side elevation of my improved gate latch showing the ap plication of the same. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan View of the catch. Fig. 4 is a detail section.

Referring to the drawing, A indicates a portion of the latch post, and B the free end of a portion of the gate which is shown so as'to clearly illustrate the operation of my improved latch.

My improved latch comprises a supporting member O which is in the form of a bolt, and is adapted to be inserted in a transverse bore formed in a post A, and locked in its adjusted position by lever nuts O, whereby the same can be moved in and out of the post in order to adjust the same for the purpose later described. The bolt C is provided with an enlarged flattened head C having an opening G into which is adapted to en tend a pin D carried by a notched catch E, which is mounted on the head of the bolt in such a manner that the same is capable of swinging or turning thereon. The catch is adapted to receive the free end of the gate for holding the same in position.

For preventing the catch from swinging on the bolt when in its normal position, I provide the same with inclined ribs F terminating in spaced shoulders which are adapted to fit on each side of the bolt C, in such a manner that the catch will be held in a locked position. In order to release the catch, it is necessary to raise the same upwardly in order to bring the shoulders above the bolt in which position the same can swing freely in order to allow the gate to be opened. The catch is provided with suitable stops G for limiting the movement of the same, and after the same has been swung into an open position so as to allow the gate to be opened, it will be swung in that position by the ribs, so that when the gate is closed it will engage the catch and swing the same into a closed position, the ribs dropping down to each side of the bolt in order to hold the catch in a locked position. The pin D is of such a size that the same will fit loosely within the opening of the head of the bolt, whereby the same can be moved upwardly easily and quickly, and at the same time will allow for the rocking movement for the catch when riding on the inclined ribs.

While I have shown and described the catch with a pin, it of course being understood that the bolt can be provided with a pin, and the catch with an opening to receive the same.

From a foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a latch which is exceedingly simple in construction, the catch being so mounted that the same can swing freely in either direction in order to allow the gate to be opened ineither direction. It will also be seen that when the gate is swung open the latch is carried and .held into such a position that it will be engaged properly by the gate when swung closed so as to hold the same in that position.

What I claim is 1. A gate latch comprising a support, a catch horizontally pivoted on said support having a vertical movement, and shoulders having inclined faces formed on said catch co-acting with said support for locking said catch.

2 A gate latch comprising an adjustable support, a catch pivotally mounted on said support, and spaced inclined ribs formed on the under side of said catch for engaging the support.

3. A gate latch comprising an adjustable support having an opening, a catch carrying a pin loosely mounted in said opening, inclined ribs formed on the under side of said catch terminating in spaced shoulders between which the support is adapted to fit, and stops formed on the under side of said catch for limiting the movement of the same.

4. A gate latch comprising a bolt having an enlarged flattened apertured head, a notched catch carrying a pin loosely mounted in the opening of said head, and inclined ribs formed on the side of said catch forming spaced shoulders adapted to straddle said bolt.

5. In a gate latch, the combination with a post provided with a bore, of a threaded bolt mounted in said bore provided with a fiat head having an aperture, lever nuts mounted on said bolt to each side of said post for adjusting the bolt therein, a notched catch carrying a pin loosely mounted in the opening of said head, inclined ribs formed on the under side of said catch terminating in spaced shoulders between which the bolt is adapted to fit, and stops arranged on the under side of said catch for limiting the movement of said catch in respect to said bolt.

JOSEPH C. SMITH.

Witnesses:

S. O. HAUSON, L. A. NELsoN."

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

